Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Time to Stitch by Needle Work Press

October 19, 2016 By patgeary

I had seen the chart “Time to Stitch” by Needlework Press posted on a number of sites but somehow it never struck my fancy as something I would like to stitch for myself. The chart shows the piece finished into a Lone Elm Lane Shaker Box (6 or 8 inch) OR using the Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Alarm Clock Frame available at any number of stores.

BUT then I saw a finished piece posted on the Tomorrow’s Heirlooms Facebook group and that convinced me that I really wanted to stitch this one.

I selected a piece of 16ct Storm Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie and Darkest Midnight Blue floss from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe with Tin Bucket by Gentle Arts. The clock faces used for finishing are also by Tim Holtz Idea-Ology and can be ordered online.

Started Stitching October 14, 2016 Finished October 19, 2016

The picture does not do the stitched piece justice as the fabric is actually a mottled smoky grey. Now to send it off to the finisher.

And the finished piece back from Vonna Pfeiffer and her The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service.

Time to Stitch by Needlework Press.

Summer Shall Not Fade by Blackbird Designs

October 13, 2016 By patgeary

Summer Shall not Fade was part of a retreat project (Spring Fling) offered by the ladies at Dyeing to Stitch and Blackbird Designs. I was not able to attend the Retreat but was given the opportunity to stitch one of the charts by a stitching friend. Donna Rae Barrow in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook Group posted a picture of the finished piece framed in a bird frame she found at Michael’s. There was a mad dash to find the frame and I was lucky enough to purchase one on sale for half price. The chart needs to be stitched on 16/32ct to fit in the frame. You could of course use 18/36ct if you wanted a bit more space around the edges. I chose to use 16ct Hand Dyed Aida. Not sure of the color right now but will add it when I find my notes.

Supplies for Summer Shall Not Fade

Back of stitched piece laced before framing.

Summer Shall Not Fade – Framed

Hedgerow Birds Project Bags by Blackbird Designs

October 3, 2016 By patgeary

I was given Hedgerow Birds as a gift from a stitching friend. I first went searching for the buttons it used and ordered them. While the chart recommends stitching this project on 20ct Straw linen by Weeks Dye Works, I selected 20ct Ivory Lugana which I ordered. The fabric reminds me of the 18ct Davos I used to stitch many of my Prairie Schooler charts on. I also decided to use some of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads rather than what the chart recommended. I am getting a little more comfortable in making color changes.

The above picture shows the chart, fabric, buttons, and threads I selected. I started stitching this one on September 21, 2016. The colors I selected to use are:

VM Pink Roses instead of CC Jakey Brown
VM Faded Pink Lace instead of CC Sunkissed
VM Parsley instead of GA Apple Cider
VM Spring Green instead of GA Chamomile
VM Primitive Purple instead of GA Old Purple Paint
VM Purple Hollyhock instead of GA Old Red Paint
Carries Creations Soot for the birds and VM Olde Gold for the bird eye.
VM Rose Plum for part of the Alphabet

And a finish for the front.

On to stitching the back of the bag now.

Hedgerow Birds – Back

And the back is finished.

Hedgerow Birds – Back

Started stitching on Sept 21, 2016. Finished stitching October 14, 2016.

And here it is finally released from prison in January 2022 and finished as a ditty bag. I’ll add some dried flowers and hang it on the inside of the front door.

New Boxes of Floss and another Giveaway

September 24, 2016 By patgeary

Nancy Turner (The Floss Fairy) and owner of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has some of the most beautiful floss I know of. It is a pleasure to stitch with. She is adding three new boxes of floss and has a giveaway going to enter to win your favorite. To enter, you MUST be a follower of her blog and leave a comment.

The first one is the Hearthside Collection – warm and rich colors including: Lamplight, Candle Glow, Spinning Wheel, Fireside Glow, Rustic Charm, Chimney Sweep, Home Sweet Home, and Old Lantern are a few of them.

Hearthside Collection

The second one – and my favorite – is Grandmother’s Favorite Quilts. This collection includes: 12 old fashioned favorites, Jacob’s Ladder, Dresden Plate, Ohio Star, Nine Patch, Irish Chain among others.

Grandmother’s Favorite Quilts

And the third one is the Red and Cream Collection. This set has 4 shades of cream, each a little different. Biscuit, Shortcake, Buttermilk and Buttercream. The reds, two shades of Sampler Red, Simply Red, Strawberry Pie, Berry Wine, Antique Red, Holiday Red and Favorite Red.

Red and Cream Collection

So head on over to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe to enter for a chance to win one of these beauties. These three collections will be available to order on October 8th by contacting Nancy directly. Good luck!!

March Hare from A Fine Collection

September 20, 2016 By patgeary

I was looking for something a little different to stitch for a baby sampler and since I am a big fan of Blackbird Designs decided to use the chart for March Hare from A Fine Collection. The book includes twelve projects, one for each month of the year.

The running rabbit is surrounded by a vegetable garland. Carrots, radishes, and peas abundantly available. His star eye and flower and ribbon collar dress him up for spring.

Some of the recommended threads were from Olde Willow Stitchery which no longer exists BUT a friend sent me the threads so I could try and match them to what might be available today. And I had to add additional space at the bottom for the baby’s name and birthdate.

The recommended fabric was 30ct Flax Fields by R & R Reproductions but I selected a piece of 16ct Milk Chocolate Aida from my stash. This is one of my go to colors and is from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. The thread colors I selected as I went along.

Started stitching September 10, 2016. Finished the top Sept 19, 2016.

Recommended Threads: Olde Willow Stitchery (OWS) – Gentle Arts Sampler Thread (GA) – DMC

OWS Rustic Red (DMC 352/3024)
OWS Spice Pumpkin DMC 3770/3859)
OWS Prairie Grain
OWS Tabasco (DMC 3832 is a perfect match)
DMC 310
DMC 3787 (Current shade of this has a greenish tinge)
GA Evergreen
GA Old Blue Paint
GA Shutter Green
WDW Sand (this is listed as Gentle Arts but there is no such color

The used the following colors to stitch mine in the same order as above

Victorian Motto – Variegated Peach Orange (for the carrots)
For Spice Pumpkin, I used a Special Edition of Gentle Arts but it had no name
GA Sable (for the rabbit)
DMC 3832
DMC 310 (eyes of rabbit)
DMC 3031 (rabbit ear and parts of the leg)
GA Evergreen (lighter parts of leaves)
Victorian Motto Primitive Sky (letters and personalization)
Victorian Motto Spring Green (vines and darker parts of leaf and peas)
GA Sand (pink in rabbit’s ear)

Now that the finished/framed piece has been received by my grandson, I can show the final picture here.

March Hare from A Fine Collection by Blackbird Designs.

I liked this one so much, I stitched a second one for another great-grandchild who arrived in 2019.

I used slightly different colors for the floss on this one but still Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads.

Spring Fling by Blackbird Designs

September 5, 2016 By patgeary

I’ve been seeing postings for Spring Fling by Blackbird Designs for a couple of years now and thinking I MUST stitch this one. It is one of the many out of print charts but I was lucky enough to trade another chart for this one.

A friend sent me some of the colors to stitch this so I finally got around to working on it. I chose a piece of mint green 16ct Aida I had in my stash and changed around some of the colors. I forgot to take a picture of this one with the floss and fabric before I started stitching so this will have to do.

Started Stitching: August 24, 2016
Finished Stitching: September 4, 2016

The floss colors I chose were as follows:

GAST Pineapple Sherbet
GAST Avocado changed to changed to Spring Grass
GAST Hyacinth changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Antique Violets
GAST Lavender Potpourri
GAST Dried Thyme changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Spring Green
GAST Poinsettia
GAST Tea Rose
GAST Slate
GAST Buttermilk changed to GAST Summer Meadow
GAST Sarsaparilla
GAST Cidermill Brown
GAST Summer Meadow changed to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Dried Hay
I also changed the color of the vase to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Primitive Sky

And the finished piece is shown below. I am not sure yet how I will finish this one.

August 13, 2022 – I freed this one from the prison drawer, and rather than frame it, I used one of my favorite finishing boards from Michael’s. This is one of the 10″ x 10″ boards already stained.

Summer Garden for Ladies Prim Society

August 17, 2016 By patgeary

The second kit for Ladies Prim Society members for 2016 is called Summer Garden by Blackbird Designs.

The kit includes everything you need to stitch the threadkeep. Because I do not like to stitch using linen, I chose a piece of 32ct mystery fabric I had in my stash. I am also stitching 2 over 2 rather than the recommended one over one.

Started stitching August 12, 2016.

And there are three tiny butterflies stitched one over one.

And my progress as of August 16, 2016

And the finished piece – stitching that is.

Summer Garden from Ladies Prim Society.

And here is the finished piece from Vonna Pfeiffer’s The Twisted Stitcher’s Finishing Service.

Summer Garden by Blackbird Designs for Ladies Prim Society.

Garden of Life by Blackbird Designs

July 15, 2016 By patgeary

Garden of Life is #21 in the Loose Feathers series and is Out of Print (as are many of the early Blackbird Design charts). This is one I have wanted to stitch for a long time but just putting it off. Then I won a drawing by the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for a set of Nancy’s Primitive Floss Collection. I decided this was the perfect set to select colors from for this project.

Rather than use the recommended fabric, I chose a piece of 16ct Legacy by Picture This Plus to stitch with. I also selected the following colors from the Primitive Floss collection:

Primitive Green
Dahlia Leaves (from another collection)
Old Red Roses
Pink Roses
Weathered Teal (for the letters which I really like)
Primitive Grey
Mocha Tan
Mixed Wood Brown
Mocha Cream

I think I need one more color but will select it when I get to it. I started stitching Garden of Life on July 9, 2016. Here is my progress as of July 15, 2016.

I will be taking a brief break to stitch another of the Out of Print charts that has been loaned to me. Just waiting for the recommended floss to arrive.

Garden of Life by Blackbird Designs

Started: July 9, 2016
Finished: August 11, 2016

The picture does not do the threads justice.

And after five years, here it is framed.

Patchwork Pinkeep

July 5, 2016 By patgeary

Patchwork Pinkeep was a kit offered as part of the Silver Needle A Little Help from our friends club. Since I am not a member, I really never expected to stitch it but a stitching friend sent me the kit as a gift.

I chose to stitch it on 28ct cream Monaco rather than the included linen as I do not like stitching on linen. I did use the recommended threads. The piece was stitched in honor of my husband’s maternal grandparents. I included their names, birthdate (both were born in 1848) and the date they were married. The finished size is a little too big for a small pillow so may frame it for him.

Started Stitching: May 23, 2016
Finished Stitching: June 12, 2016

I framed this one and gave it to my step-daughter as a gift for living with us for nine months and helping in the care of her father for the last year of his life.

Patchwork Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs

Never Far Apart by Blackbird Designs

July 2, 2016 By patgeary

I really never thought I would like to stitch any of the stockings series but I am finding out I was wrong. I had seen pictures posted of Never Far Apart with was issued as a Limited Edition and decided I would like to stitch this one. Unfortunately, this one was OOP as are many of the ones I have fallen in love with. Another generous stitcher loaned it to me.

This limited edition tin from Blackbird Designs includes everything needed to make this adorable 4 x 8 mini-stocking celebrating friendship. It is stitched on 32ct hand-dyed linen with Gentle Art’s Chives, Old Brick, Woodrose, Endive, Apple Cider, Brandy and Raspberry Parfait. The sampler design features two houses connected with a friendship pathway. This is a complete LIMITED EDITION kit which includes the chart, linen, stocking lining fabric and hand-dyed flosses. Comes packed in a little round tin.

I am stitching the little stocking on 16 cream Aida with the recommended threads. Started June 30, 2016.